Vikings split with Perry in baseball

Wednesday

LAKE ODESSA — The Lakewood Vikings opened up conference play on Tuesday with a split against Perry at home. The Vikings won the first game 10-2 and then dropped the second 6-1.

In game one, Reese Caudy was lights out on the mound again. Caudy threw five innings, giving up one unearned run on just one hit, one walk, while striking out five. Conner Frizzell pitched the final two innings in relief allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out four.

"We played a very solid game today in game one,” said Lakewood coach Brad Tacey. “Everyone was seeing the ball well, and we played the same great defense we have all season. Reese and Conner pitched another outstanding game. It was a good win."

The Vikings got 10 hits in the game, with Alec Vasquez going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Chandler Adams was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Jacob Elenbaas went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Parker Smith was 1-for-3 with a double and Jake Eberhardt, Nathan DeVries, and Reese Caudy all added singles in the game.

In the second game, Perry jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back, winning 6-1. Kenny Cobb took the loss on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits and walking two. Nate Dillon relieved Cobb, throwing four innings allowing one earned run on two hits, three walks, while striking out four. Nathan DeVries rounded out the pitching effort in the final inning, allowing two runs on four walks.

"There aren't many games you can win if you walk nine batters and make three errors in a game...it just doesn't happen,” said Tacey. “When we were around the plate, we were getting the job done, I think they (Perry) only had four hits total in game two."

The Vikings could only manage three hits in game two with Jake Eberhardt going 2-for-3 and Alec Vasquez going 1-for-3 with a double.

"Obviously its disappointing, you always want to start league play out with a good DH showing and take two, but we split to open the season last year and that helped wake us up then," Tacey said.

"I expect it to have the same effect on this team now. And honestly, as bad as we played, the team felt like we were going to come back and win the entire game, up until it got called for darkness. That's a good thing, nobody got down, everyone was picking each other up. That mental toughness and positive outlook is going to serve this team well as we grind out this season."

The Vikings (4-1, 1-1) take on Ionia at home Thursday for a 4 p.m. double header.

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